Rob Jagger's Campground is located near Fort Stanton in New Mexico, surrounded by flat terrain with sparse vegetation. Temperatures can range from 30°F in winter to 90°F in summer. Nearby attractions include the Fort Stanton Historic Site and the Snowy River Cave, offering opportunities for exploration and learning.

## Overview

 Rob Jaggers Camping Area: This site consists of 2 large day use parking areas, 2 vault toilets, and facilities for staging horseback riding. There are 27 campsites with electricity and potable water hookups, and other potable water outlets scattered throughout. Campites and horse corrals are first-come, first-served. Camping is restricted to the campground only and no camping is permitted in the day use parking area. Occasionally the campground is rented out for Special Recreation Permitted events. When this happens notification will be made to the public in the form of a news release. BLM requires a Special Recreation Permit for some events. Please contact the Roswell Field Office to determine if a Special Recreation Permit is required for your event. There is water and electricity located at the group shelter. To make group shelter reservations or for any other Rob Jaggers Campground information, please contact the camp host at 575-322-0030. For other information please contact the Roswell Field Office at 575-627-0272. 
## Recreation

 RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES This unique NCA has many opportunities for hiking, caving, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, visiting cultural and historic sites, picnicking, hunting, wildlife viewing, nature study, and photography. There is drinking water and toilets at the Rob Jaggers Camping Area and at the Cave Campgrounds. Trails (Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding) Fort Stanton NCA has 73 miles of sustainable horseback, mountain biking, and hiking trails that wind through open meadows and canyons. Trails are marked with flexible fiberglass markers with the trail name or an arrow attached to the marker. Cross-country horse and foot travel is allowed. Mountain bikes are strongly encouraged to stay on established trails to protect the rider as well as the landscape. The trails offer great views of the surrounding Sacramento and Capitan Mountains. The majority of the trails start at the Rob Jaggers Camping Area on NM 220 where you will find hitching rails, water for your animals, and a vault toilet. Rio Bonito Petroglyph National Recreation Trail Hike the Petroglyph Trail along the Rio Bonito and glimpse into the past. At the midpoint of the Trail, in the river bed, is Petroglyph Rock. Etched on this rock are depictions of an ancient people known as the Jornada Mogollon who have long since left the area. Very little evidence has stood the test of time, but here on the Petroglyph Trail remains a link to the culture and lifestyle of these ancient people. The Trail can be reached from NM 220, west of the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport. Follow the highway signs stating Upper Rio Bonito to the bottom of the hill and turn right for approximately 250 ft then take the next left until you reach the trailhead (high-clearance vehicles are recommended). Petroglyph Rock is a short 450 ft walk from the parking area. The loop trail is approximately 2.1 miles in total length and is easy-to-moderate hiking with a few hills and areas with loose footing. Plan to spend approximately one hour on the Trail. Historical Sites Historic Fort Stanton is one of very few intact frontier forts in the West. Many of the original Fort buildings still stand. From 1855 to 1896, the Fort played host to some of the most colorful units and personalities of the West, including the 9th Cavalry, and the 24th, 57th, and 125th Infantry Buffalo Soldiers, Billy the Kid, Lew Wallace, Colonel Kit Carson, and General Black Jack Pershing. The post was also a Merchant Marine hospital & tuberculosis sanatorium, and World War II prisoner of war camp. In 1953, the Fort and 1,320 surrounding acres were transferred from Federal to State ownership, becoming a state hospital and training school until 1955. Today, the Fort area is active with other State activities and the Fort Stanton Museum is open on a daily basis (http://fortstanton.org/). Caving Fort Stanton Cave With over 40 miles of mapped passages, the Cave is normally open for recreational caving under permit from April 15 to November 1. However, due to the threat of White Nose Syndrome (WNS), which has killed 8 million bats in the eastern and southern states, and has been identified nearby in Texas, the Cave has been placed in a recreational caving moratorium pending research and monitoring of the unwanted arrival of WNS. The Cave is widely known for its rare velvet formations, and there are also interesting helictites, aragonite, selenite needles, and various forms of gypsum. During the winter months the Cave is closed to protect hibernating bats. The Cave is gated to protect other unique resources and to prevent unsupervised visitation. Please check back with this website for any changes to the recreational caving moratorium. Snowy River Very slow moving groundwater dissolved the grayish-brown limestone in which the Cave is formed and recrystallized that limestone into a white-colored mineral called calcite. Through numerous infillings of groundwater saturated with calcite, followed by draining and drying, repeated coats of calcite were laid on the bottom of the Cave through the entire 11 miles of Snowy River passage that has been surveyed to date. This unique white crystalline deposit glistens like snow and may be the longest calcite formation in North America. Several endemic microorganisms have been discovered in this new section of the Cave. In this sunless environment, species living here do not get their energy from the sun. Instead, they chemically break down rock. In the process, they create chemical byproducts that could have pharmaceutical uses. There are also several species that have formed symbiotic relationships with each other. Continuing exploration and scientific research will help us better understand the formation of caves in this area, improve our understanding of groundwater hydrology of the region, and increase our knowledge of the biology of the Cave. In the years to come, many new biological discoveries are anticipated. Due to the scientific importance of the Cave, the Snowy River passage is not open to the public. BLM is planning interpretive products in the future so the public can enjoy and better understand this unique resource. Camping The Fort Stanton NCA is open to overnight camping with a 14-day maximum length of stay. To camp, vehicles may pull off any of the dirt roads, but no more than 90 feet from the road. There are two formal camping areas: The Rob Jaggers Camping Area on NM 220 and the small Cave Campground near Fort Stanton Cave entrance. Cave Campground - Several tables and fire rings are located here, as well as a vault toilet. The access road is graveled. 
## Natural Features

 Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area: Surrounding the Rob Jagger's campground is the Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA). At around 6300' elevation the NCA offers a diverse habitat of High Desert cedar/juniper hillsides with Ponderosa Pine stringers and hardwoods meandering through the canyon bottoms. Petroglyph Rock: Along the Rio Bonito River petroglyph trail is Petroglyph Rock. Etched on this rock are depictions of an ancient people known as the Jornada Mogollon who have long since left the area. Very little evidence has stood the test of time, but here on the Petroglyph Trail remains a link to the culture and lifestyle of these ancient people. Snowy River Cave: The Cave is widely known for its rare velvet formations, and there are also interesting helictites, aragonite, selenite needles, and various forms of gypsum. During the winter months the Cave is closed to protect hibernating bats. The Cave is gated to protect other unique resources and to prevent unsupervised visitation. 
## Nearby Attractions

 \_\_Nearby camping/recreation opportunities: The BLM's Fort Stanton National Conservation Area has 93 miles of sustainable horseback, mountain biking, and hiking trails that wind through open meadows and canyons. Trails are marked with flexible fiberglass markers with the trail name or an arrow attached to the marker. Cross-country horse and foot travel is allowed. Mountain bikes are strongly encouraged to stay on established trails to protect the rider as well as the landscape. The trails offer great views of the surrounding Sacramento and Capitan Mountains. The majority of the trails start at the Rob Jaggers Camping Area on NM 220 where you will find hitching rails, water for your animals, and a vault toilet. Additonal nearby attractions include Capitan, Lincoln, and Ruidoso. Capitan, located approximately 5 miles west of the Rob Jagger's Campground on U.S. Highway 380, is known as the birthplace of Smokey Bear, and features a popular visitor center. Lincoln, located 8 miles east on U.S. Highway 380, is famous as the site of the historic Lincoln County Wars as well as the exploits of Billy the Kid and Sheriff Pat Garrett. Ruidoso is a popular resort town that features a horse racetrack, the Ski Apache skiing resort, and the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino Valley of Fires Recreation Area: The Bureau of Land Management maintains and manages the Valley of Fires Recreation area, which is located four miles west of Carrizozo, NM, on US Highway 380 approximatley 27 miles west of Rob Jagger's Campground. Valley of Fires offers both camping and day use. Most of the campsites have 30 and 50 amp electrical hookups, water hookups, picnic shelters, tables, trash cans and barbeque grills.Other water hydrants are scattered throughut the recreation area. Two of the RV sites are accessible, as are the restrooms. Showers are provided in the main restroom/shower house. An RV dump station is also available. Two group shelters are wheelchair accessible and available for rental. The 3/4 mile Malpais Nature Trail offers a close-up look of the lava surface. Carrizozo Land Partnership: The Carrizozo Land Partnership (CLP) provides access to recreators wishing to enter public lands managed by the BLM, between the Carrizozo Lava Flow and the White Sands Missile Range which can only be reached by crossing private land. The CLP, a partnership between the BLM, private land owners and ranchers of this area, has arranged for public access to BLM lands in this area by a vehicle pass process. The form required for applying for access can be found here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/new-mexico/carrizozo-land-partnership Please note that a vehicle pass is required for each vehicle (including OHVs) that will be entering the partnership area. Once on the BLM lands in the area, the public is allowed to hunt, camp, hike, observe wildlife and other appropriate recreational activities. This partnership provides access to many miles of roads and thousands of acres of public lands for recreational enjoyment.\_\_The roads are extremly rocky and rough and a high clearance 4x4 vehicle or side by side is recomended. Terrain is from flat to rolling, with some bluffy/hilly country overlooking the lava flows. High desert plant species inhabit this area, ranging from desert shrubs, multiple varieties of cactus and cedar/juniper trees.

Rob Jagger's Campground — Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area

Searching for the best camping near Capitan, NM? Capitan is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. Find the best campgrounds near Capitan, NM. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Capitan

The Best Camping Near Capitan, New Mexico

This campground was recently redone in 2021. There's a lot of campsites. All of them have water and electric hookups for only $20 a day.

  

It's right off of the highway that leads to Fort Stanton and is accessible for any size of RV or trailer.

  

There's a dump station that is included with the campsite price or it's $30 if you aren't camping. 

  

Most of the sites have small corrals for horses you can rent. 

  

There's a camp host at the entrance but you pay at the information sign in the day use area.

Awesome Campground With Water, Electric Hookups, & Dump Station

Sites are gravel and nice. Very easy to level up. Several pull thru sites. Any size rig can fit. Some horse corrals available. Very clean and safe. Very little traffic noise and actually very few people around. Extremely quiet. Camp host came by just to make sure we had what we needed. Water and electric at site plus a nice dump station for only $20.

Quiet and peaceful 

It really is just a big parking lot. Pit toilet water and electric. There's an extra fee to use the dump station 20 bucks a night for full service. Thing is it's perfect if you're here in the winter and you don't want any shade and you want to hike all the trails without any traffic it's terrific for that. Pretty sure I can work from my level parking spot for the week and there's enough exploring to be done that I shouldn't run out of things to do. Barely barely barely have cell phone service but I seem to be connected and with very little traffic on it it seems to be okay.

Photos of Rob Jagger's Campground — Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area

Real photos from real campers